The Best Foods for Healthy Hair

While cosmetic solutions, hair regrowth treatments, and laser hair procedures or treatments can be effective ways to restore hair or hide hair loss, sometimes it’s more about what we do on the inside than the outside.

Our bodies, (and the hair on our bodies), need nutrients, proteins, and vitamins in order to maintain a healthy, strong structure. Eating the wrong foods, or not enough of the right ones, can contribute to thin hair, sallow skin, brittle nails, and even acne breakouts.

Don’t fret! Read on for helpful tips to guide you through your next visit to the market and ensure you’re eating foods to help promote healthy hair!

We’ve also created a nifty INFOGRAPHIC, where you can share, read, and visually see the best foods to eat for healthy, strong hair.

Food Types that Aid in Hair Growth

There are four essential food categories that can provide your body with the optimal environment for healthy hair growth. These four categories are:

Proteins

The right kinds of fats

Vitamin C

Iron and zinc

Protein
Since hair is made of protein, you want to make sure you’re getting an ample amount of it in your diet. This includes eating lean meats, such as chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, soy products, beans, and nuts. These foods will help promote healthy keratin production, which are the building blocks of hair.

Bonus Benefits: Proteins are necessary for growth and maintenance of every kind of cell in our body.

Fats…Yes, There IS a Good Kind
Next, eating the right kinds of fats will help grow and maintain healthy hair production. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in walnuts, flaxseed oil, salmon, and cauliflower, are the good fats that will help your body process the vitamins and minerals in your diet, ensuring hair-healthy vitamins find their way to the hair.

Bonus Benefits: Omega-3 fatty acids also help control blood clotting and help build cell membranes in the brain.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is used to build collagen, which is fundamental in hair growth (especially in the early stages) and hair revitalization. Citrus fruits, broccoli, bell peppers, and spinach are all foods that contain a substantial amount of vitamin C. Since the body cannot produce vitamin C on its own, it’s essential that you provide vitamin C to the body by ingesting it.

Minerals Are Your Friends: Iron and Zinc
Lastly, iron and zinc are also important minerals that your body needs for healthy hair. Iron is responsible for delivering oxygen to your cells, while zinc assists in the repair of tissues – making sure the oil glands around your hair follicles are working properly. Iron can be found in lean animal meats, beans, lentils, and tofu, and zinc is present in oysters, dark chocolate, and cocoa powder.

Who knew healthy hair could taste so good?

Bonus Benefits: Both iron and zinc help the immune system function properly.

What Else Can I Do?

Even though you now understand how your diet and nutrition can affect your hair’s health, you should still consider other products to use in combination with healthy eating to grow and maintain healthy hair. If you’re looking to take a supplement, Toppik Hair Nutrition 2-in-1 Capsules contain Keratin, Camu Camu, and Palm Oil, all vital ingredients for supporting, nourishing, and strengthening hair structure. This means that hair is reinforced from root to tip, helping you avoid hair breakage and damage.If you are looking for a more topical hair solution, Toppik 3-in-1 Hair Renewal Shampoo will cleanse, condition, and exfoliate while fighting free radicals and unclogging pores on the scalp. The 3-in-1 formula allows you to accomplish all of these things in one step. If you like to use both a shampoo and a conditioner, Toppik Hair Building Shampoo and Hair Building Conditioner do just what their names say, rebuild and repair thin, thinning, or damaged hair.

Because healthier-looking hair can start with your next meal, don’t forget to share this infographic for bonus beauty points.

Stay in the Know

Now that we’ve shown you how to get naturally healthy hair by eating the right foods, (hint hint share the infographic here) next week we’re going to be talking about a cause close to our hearts: alopecia areata.

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